Nouvelle Vag is top of my list as 'close'. Crosby I'd predict stays open...always seems to have a flow of people when I go by...just wish they served some food and beer/wine at night (its a nice space)

Breukelyn, I really wish it would go. I have never set foot in a more unwelcoming coffee shop. Heck even the customers are rude! But I suspect that the hipsters that infest the place will keep it going.

As for the rest of the list:

Novelle Vag- Close

Little Zelda- Open

Glass Shop- open. But I think their coffee isn't as good as it once was.

Breukelyn, I really wish it would go. I have never set foot in a more unwelcoming coffee shop. Heck even the customers are rude! But I suspect that the hipsters that infest the place will keep it going.

Breukelyn is truly some awful Williamsburg spore that floated down Bedford and took root in Crown Heights. After living in the neighborhood for a year, and on the day I was moving to a new place a few blocks down from my old apartment, I decided to pop into Breukelyn and get breakfast for all the friends/family helping with the move. The barista allowed myself and 2 other patrons to line up, apparently on the wrong side of the bar, and refused to acknowledge us. Finally after 3 minutes or so, he told us the ordering line was on the other side of the bar. We moved over. When it got to be my turn, he just looked at me said "you have a groupon right?". Never again.

You guys north of Empire Blvd. are lucky. Down here in PLG we had no real coffee shop for many months after K-Dog closed in 2011 and again after Blue Roost closed; we finally have a good one once again since Tugboat opened a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if I could cope with actually having to CHOOSE :-)

You guys north of Empire Blvd. are lucky. Down here in PLG we had no real coffee shop for many months after K-Dog closed in 2011 and again after Blue Roost closed; we finally have a good one once again since Tugboat opened a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if I could cope with actually having to CHOOSE :-)

I was sad when K-Dog closed down for good. Blue Roost didn't last long at all. :smurf:

I know Skazzy is not a standard coffee shop, but the possibility of it closing (who has ever seen a person eating there?) will have a big impact on what drops off the original list. I can foresee that location on a busy intersection as very tempting to a franchise. Starbucks wouldn't be the only potential buyer.

Hello from rainy Jerusalem. I am away visiting the folks. I should be back no later than a month (I miss my customers a lot). Lots of work is being done in my absence. Opening the shop is going to be my first order of business upon my return. Look for the sign and awning to go up sometime soon. Ttyl

(I do love it when our members continue to post even when they are out town!

....I posted when I was Singapore a few years ago)

But I want to stay on topic.

I think the coffee shops that are run by inexperienced proprieters are those most at risk. They are often unable to see when they are not doing a good job, and keep believing things will get better in the future. When in fact, things will not get better in the future UNLESS they up their game now.

Has anyone been in Park Place Coffee? I've not, but I've peeked in a few times and patronage seems to be somewhat dismal.

As an aside, two Saturdays ago I was in Glass Shop. I had bought a coffee and a pastry and was quietly using my laptop in a corner. The barista had started his shift *after* I'd gotten there and made my purchase. As I was leaving, he practically shouted (with the obvious intent of publicly shaming me), "Hey man, if you want to use the WiFi, you gotta buy something next time." I just laughed and walked out. I don't think I'll be going back.

You guys north of Empire Blvd. are lucky. Down here in PLG we had no real coffee shop for many months after K-Dog closed in 2011 and again after Blue Roost closed; we finally have a good one once again since Tugboat opened a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if I could cope with actually having to CHOOSE :-)

Perhaps a coffee choice in PLG is too tough because you once again have to choose between smoothie shops!

I am just glad they are ok after the robbery, in part because I would feel really bad about creating a thread entitled "Coffee Shop Deathwatch", and then to have an employee of a local coffee shop literally killed or harmed.

Apparently 11238 has 24,525 people, and, while it's not quite conterminous with the region we're talking about here, that number still gives a rough estimate of one coffeeshop for every 2000 residents.

I think Park Place Coffee is gone. I was supposed to meet a friend there this morning. But he texted me and said they were closed.... at 10am on a weekday. I'm kinda of sad I liked that place! And I thought the coffee was getting better. At least Glass Shop is still alive and kicking!

Religious Jewish owners = closed for Passover. Bad for business, but hey—what do I know.

Hmm, my friend didn't mention a note or a sign on the door. But seeing how they close for the Sabbath this makes sense. With business decisions like this I maintain their not going to be open much longer.

Whynot I'd agree with that. It think at most a coffee shop serves doughnuts and other breakfast pastries. I just wonder if I was to go in there a few weeks after they make this transition would I receive the evil eye for only buying a cup of coffee?

I know Skazzy is not a standard coffee shop, but the possibility of it closing (who has ever seen a person eating there?) will have a big impact on what drops off the original list. I can foresee that location on a busy intersection as very tempting to a franchise. Starbucks wouldn't be the only potential buyer.

After being outbid over a year ago for the space presently occupied by Centanii, Starbucks is now in "final negotiations" with the landlord who owns the space formerly occupied by Climax (775 Franklin Avenue)

The small coffee shops we have been jabbering about are going to have to adapt to survive....

I always found coffee bites employees ranging from friendly to emotionless (neither friendly or rude, just stone faced and robotic), which im fine with.

The worst coffee place in terms of employees has been Sit & Wonder. Consistently douchey hipster, with the attitude that they're doing you a favor they're serving you, and seem annoyed. Joyce is a close second.

I don't have a problem with Starbucks opening on Franklin; however, I do hope they don't pull too many customers from small businesses like Nimba, Pulp & Bean, Little Zelda, Lily & Fig and Breukelen Coffee House.

With an abundance of independent shops between E. Pkwy. and Park Place, Franklin Av. has no shortage of coffee spots. I just hope the addition of Starbucks doesn't force any of them to close. I imagine Starbucks being the go-to spot for visiting parents of the neighborhood's newer young inhabitants.

I have it on good word that the Starbucks for Franklin will have, in the evening, local artisinal beers, indie band shows, and a thrift-shop/vinyl section in back. So I think they understand the target market and adapting. Kudos.

but i think mike, owner of little zelda, is the one behind lazy ibis, as was stated in the thread. if true, i dont get it...2 coffee shops a stones throw from eachother?

Sbux: all can stay calm. lots of examples of sbux being the first chain store to open in 'cool' neighborhoods with character, thriving, and yet not being the storm petrel for applebees/mcdonalds/olivegarden that people here think.

I have it on good word that the Starbucks for Franklin will have, in the evening, local artisinal beers, indie band shows, and a thrift-shop/vinyl section in back. So I think they understand the target market and adapting.

I find this hard to believe. You don't run a chain of this scale by changing things around in one-off fashion.

I have it on good word that the Starbucks for Franklin will have, in the evening, local artisinal beers, indie band shows, and a thrift-shop/vinyl section in back. So I think they understand the target market and adapting.

I find this hard to believe. You don't run a chain of this scale by changing things around in one-off fashion.

Duane Reade has tried to specialize their stores to fit the neighborhood (draft beer in at least a couple trendy Brooklyn/Manhattan locations). I'm trying to think of a couple more examples..

I can't wait to throw back beers with the regional corporate manager who just left their cube in midtown on their way home to Long Island. We can talk about how great it is in Crown Heights now that people are starting to "move here".

Indeed I was kidding about the Starbucks plans. Although when I lived in Santa Monica there was a coffee bean and tea leaf that did have a fire pit in front. The beauty about sbux as noted above is consistency. Likely no extreme measures will be taken to hipsterize it

I'm a bit disappointed by this news, it feels like the Manhattanization of the neighborhood. Regardless of how much so, it will take dollars away from smaller, locally owned joints.

On another note, I disagree with some of the previous criticism about the staff at Coffee Bites and Sit & Wonder. I am by no means a daily customer, but I've always received good to great service (with no douchey attitude detected).

Just my thoughts on a few of these places.* I've been leading writing workshops in the neighborhood coffee shops/cafes for over 10 years, and the owner/staff at Coffee Bites have been incredibly supportive and nice, and have allowed us to use the upstairs loft area every week since the time they have opened for our meetings. They have even stayed open late for us many times. Also, Soraya, the owner, seems active in the community, cares about the neighborhood, and has given to the community in several ways that I know about and is really kind and sweet. This is one of my favorite cafes.* Although I think Nimba has a good shot at succeeding (great staff, love the decor, good food and coffee) on several occasions I have arrived only to find them unexpectedly closed. I really really hope they can stay open, because I love this place. I love the art/photography, the people, the vibe. Maybe they can get a beer/wine license if that will help. *On Wed. when my new writing group showed up for our first meeting at Nimba only to find it closed, we were welcomed at Lazy Ibis and had a fantastic first night. Although it is small and might be difficult for a larger group to meet, I love the romantic, intimate mood here. Nice for first dates, as well as to get work done. The food is amazing, and I like their tea. When I wanted chai tea and they didn't have any, the owner created a homemade one for me using spices and it was incredible. I really like Flannery (who looks like a goddess from a medieval romance novel) as well as both Raphaels. The only reason I would be okay with a Starbucks opening in the area is because, as a grad student, I appreciate that they only charge 50 cents for coffee refills. Sometimes I need to budget instead of spending $10-$20 a day at a cafe and work in libraries instead. However, I would feel crappy sitting in any of "our" neighborhood cafes all day just sipping 50cent refills, while I secretly love doing that at Starbucks, sort of getting back at them. I actually like spending $ at the cafes in our area because in some small way I'm able to contribute/support them since they add so much to our neighborhood. When I moved here I knew very few of my neighbors. Today, I know many more people I've met in these coffee shops/cafes. Thanks guys!